Athletic eye guards



Dec.- 1, 1959 M..K. ANDERSON ATHLETIC EYE GUARDS Filed Sept. 17. 1956 I KL MW INVENTORQ Patented Dec. 1, 1959 ATHLETIC EYE GUARDS I Maurice K. Anderson, Seattle, Wash. 1 Application September 17, 1956, Serial No. 610,245 4 Claims. (Cl. 2-9

. The present invention relates to a safety device, intended for use as an eye guard, to be worn by persons participating in such athletic events as handball, squash United States Patent Another object of the invention is to provide a means the course of said ball and withstandthe impact without'any disturbance to the eye.

Still anotherobject of the invention is to provide a means of protection for the eyes, capable of rendering the services as aforementioned, that will not obstruct the vision of the individual wearing the eye guard. My invention, when in use, occupies a position on the face of the wearer, similar to a spectacle framethat is,it rests on the bridge of the nose, encircles the eyes in a modified oval manner and is held securely in place by double rod side bars or temples that fit snugly'against the sides of the head and extend over and to the rear of the ears.

Tlie'invention will be better understood from a study of the accompanying drawings wherein the invention is illustrated in detail, and of the present specification and accompanying claims. 1

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the eye guard in position on'the wearers head.

. Figure 2 is a front elevation of the eye guard.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the eye guard. Figure 4 is a plan view of the eye guard.

Figure 5 is a transverse section, substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective of the forward portion'of the temple of the eye guard showing an auxiliary spacer member attached to the guard.

Figure 7 "is atop perspective view of the auxiliary spacer member illustrated in Figure 6, parts being shown in section. 9

Figure 8 isa fragmentary section-thru the side portion of the guard, substantially on line 8-8 of Figure 3. In' essence the invention comprises two metal rods 10 and 12, of an alloy possessing necessary strength but 'deformable, approximately'one eighth of an inch in diameter and, approximately twenty inches long, each formed individually in an arch to closely conform to the-outline of the sides and front of a persons head from rearward of oneear to rearward of the other ear. -'The 'front portion, substantially adjacentto the area of tthezeyes is formed by an'upper rod 12' having a pair of j convexly upward curves, in general, following the contour of the eyebrows, and a lower rod 10 having a pair of convexly downward curves conforming generally to the lower curvature of the eyes cooperating to form a composite arch. The portion of the upper rod 12 lying between its upwardly convex curves is slightly upwardly convexly curved to fit over the bridge of the nose. The portion of the lower rod 10 lying between its downwardly convex curves is curved convexly upward in an arch to straddle the bridge of the nose and tilts forward slightly in a curved manner. The rods 10 and 12', in their respective relationship one above the other, are held securely together with four holding clamps F-16 and R-16, two on each side, with forward clamps F-16 occupying positions slightly to the rear of the vision openings and the rearward clamps R-16 occupying positions slightly forward of the bent rearward portions of the rods.

In the assembly of the completed unit, the convexly upward curves of upper rod 12 are disposed in generally overlying registry with the convexly downward curves of lower rod 10, creating a pair of vision openings, with each opening being somewhat oval in shape in conformity to the general outline curvatures of the eyes; thusly providing guarded openings thru which the wearer of the invention can safely see.

With further reference to assembly, an important feature of the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4, 'involves rubber tubing 13, of approximately threeeighths 'inches in outsidediameter and approximately eight inches long, and tapered at both ends, encasing that portion of upper rod form 12 from the outer apex of one vision opening to the outer apex of other vision opening, with both rod form 12 and rubbertubing13 in combination, serving as a resilient bumper for the purpose ofchecking the impact of a striking ball and easing the pressure against the face that such a contact could develop.

'Another important feature of the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, involves rubber tubing 11 of approximately three eighths' inch in outside diameter and approximately 'two and one-half inches long, and

tapered at both ends, encasing that portion of lower rod form 10 that bridges the nose, with both rod form 10 and rubber tubing 11, in combination, serving as a resilient bumper for the purpose of checking the impact of astriking ball and easing the pressure against the face that such a contact could develop.

A transverse section as illustrated in Figure 5, reveals the encasing relationship between upper rod form 12 and rubber tubing 13 and also the encasing relationship between lower rod form 10 and rubber tubing 11. Figure 5 also reveals a contact relationship between rubber tubing 13 and rubber tubing 11 centrally between the vision openings.

It will be observed in Figures 3 and 4 that in securing together upper rod form 12 and lower rod form 10, by means of clamps F-16, and 11-16, the front portion of lower rod form 10 projects forward slightly beyond the front portion of upper rod form 12. This same feature is also illustrated in Figure 4.

It will also be observed in Figure 3 that the rearward ends 17 of lower rod form 10 curve downwardly to form ear pieces, the length of the are being approximately two and three-quarter inches, and is of a curvature to follow,

in general the curvature of the rear of the ear. Fig. 3

. 3 14 forms a head band anchor hook for attaching one end of an elastic head band 18 having an adjustable buckle 19 and the reverse bend 15 provides a means for attaching one end of a small strap 20, having an adjustable buckle 21, that connects with sweat band 22 and holds the sweat band in position. a

Figure 3 also discloses a separation between the side bar or temple portions of upper rod form 12 and lower rod form 10, over a distance from forward clamp F-16 to rearward clamp R-16, created by clamps F-16 and R-16 holding upper rod form 12 apart from lower rod form one eighthinch being the approximate distance separating upper rod form 12 from lower rod form 10, with the length of separation being approximately one and three-eighths inches. The uniting of upper rod form 12 with lower rod form 10, in a spread arrangement, allows for a broader surface contact with the side of a wearers head, such broader surface contact serving more efficiently to hold the eye guard securely against the side of the head than if upper rod form 12 and lower rod form 10 were placed close together or if the temple portions leading to the ears were single rods.

Whereas it is imperative to have the eye guard maintain a firm position on the wearers head, and be sufficiently rugged to efliciently withstand the impact of a striking ball without being dislodged from its anchorage, the vision opening frame, the side bars, the ear pieces and the head band anchor hooks are constructed as a single continuous streamlined frame that closely conforms to the contour of the outline of the front and side areas of a persons head from rearward of one ear to rearward of the other ear, without the use of any hinges. This important feature is illustrated in Figure 4, wherein is revealed the location of the four clamps R16 and R-16 that secure the upper rod form 12 and lower rod form 10 tightly together in a rigid manner to form a single unit. A side view portraying this same continuity of construction is also illustrated in Figure 3.

Whereas it is of vital importance to have the vision openings sufliciently small to prevent a ball from passing thru an opening and striking the eye, it is equally essential that the vision openings be large enough to provide a clear and unobstructed view, to the sides as well as to the front, for the person wearing eye guard.

To satisfy both requirements, the vision openings, formed by uniting the upper rod 12 and the lower rod 10 with the pair of convexly upward curves of rod 12 in registry with the pair of convexly downward curves of lower rod 10, are somewhat oval in shape and measure approximately one and one eighth inches in maximum height and each opening is approximately three and onehalf inches in length measured along the rearwardly curved line of the eye guard. The frame, between the side bars or temples, defining such vision openings forms an arch, as illustrated in Figure 4, approximately 180 degrees in curvature and having its extremities curved more sharply than its central portion, conforming to the shape of the wearers head.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the rearwardly curved portions of the vision openings are tapered rearwardly by rearward convergence of the upper and lower rods to the side bars or temples at the ends of the frame arch in a streamlined manner, with the apex of such taper extending well to the rear of the central portion of the frame. The shaping of the vision openings in a curved manner by the arched conformation of the eye opening frame, as illustrated by a composite of Figures l23 and 4, provides a sweeping unobstructed view for the wearer of the eye guard through the vision openings, not only to the front but obliquely and to the sides as well.

Inasmuch as peoples heads vary in size and contour, it is understandable that some of the measurements as herein set forth will have to be altered, to a minor degree, in order to supply all possible users of the eye guard with the proper fit.

In order to combat the problem of fitting the eye guard, snugly, to an extremely narrow head, a spacer member 23, as illustrated in Figure 6, attached to forward clamp F-16 by means of bendable wings 25 of metal staple 24, has been provided; such metal staple 24 being illustrated more clearly in a fiat unbent position in Figure 7.

The spacer member 23, as illustrated in Figure 7 showing a vertical cut-a-way transverse section, comprises the metal staple 24, a thin piece of pliable rubber 26, a strong backing piece of linen fabric 27 and a piece of soft sponge rubber 28 all bonded together as one unit. The fastening prongs of metal staple 24 pass thru rubber sheeting 26 and anchor the staple to linen fabric backing 27, with such fabric being cemented on the upper side to rubber sheeting 26 and cemented on the under side to sponge rubber 28.

When spacer members 23 are in proper position on the eye guard, they occupy locations on the inner sides of clamps F-l6 and function as space fillers or head contactors, thereby eliminating looseness of eye guard fit that would normally exist between a standard eye guard, minus such spacer members 23, and a persons head of extremely narrow shape.

In order for spacer members 23 to render a'fiexible service, it is the intent to produce them in bothoval and round shapes of a maximum diameter of approximately one inch and in different thicknesses from approximately one eighth to one quarter of an inch. The overall thickness of spacer member 23 is established by selection of thickness of sponge rubber 28.

It will be observed in Figure 8, which is a section thru the frame side, that the thin-wall clamps securing upper rod form 12 and lower rod form 10 tightly together are representative of a figure eight in vertical shaping. The overall height of the clamps 5-16 and R-16, being a vertical measurement of the Figure 8 illustration, is approximately one-half inch, with the length measurement of clamps F-16 and R-16 being approximately the same as the height measurement.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An eye guard comprising an arched frame having end portions and including upper rod means of curved, head-conforming contour forming the upper sides of a pair of unobstructed vision openings and adapted to fit around the forehead just above the eyes, lower rod means having its central portiondisposed adjacent to the central portion of said upper rod means and adapted to extend across the bridge of the nose, the portions of said lower rod means at opposite sides of its central portion extending therefrom first downward away from said upper rod means and then back toward said upper rod means, forming the lower sides of such pair of unobstructed vision openings and adapted to lie adjacent to the face just below the eyes, whereby said upper rod means and said lower rod means cooperate to block a ball directed to strike an eye, means connecting said upper rod means and said lower rod means at the end portions of said arched frame, and two spaced, substantially parallel, rigid temple rod means rigidly connected respectively to the opposite end portions of said arched frame, extending rearwardly in generally aligned continuation of the end portions of the arch of said frame, respectively, and adapted to lie close alongside opposite sides of the head.

2. An eye guard comprising an arched frame'having end portions and including a padded upper rod of curved, head-engaging contour forming the upper sides of a pair of unobstructed vision openings and adapted to fit against the forehead just above the eyes, a lower rod having a curved central portion disposed adjacent to the central portion of said upper rod and adapted to extend across the bridge of the nose, the portions of said lower rod at opposite sides of its central portion being curved transversely of the frame arch therefrom first downward away from said upper rod and then back toward said upper rod to locations adjacent to said upper rod at the opposite end portions of said arched frame, forming the lower sides of such pair of unobstructed vision openings and adapted to lie adjacent to the face just below the eyes, whereby said padded upper rod and said lower rod cooperate to block a ball directed to strike an eye, means connecting said upper rod and said lower rod at the end portions of said arched frame, and two spaced, substantially parallel, rigid temple rod means rigidly integral respectively with the opposite end portions of said arched frame, extending rearwardly in generally aligned continuation of the end portions of the arch of said frame, respectively, and adapted to lie close alongside opposite sides of the head.

3. An eye guard comprising a frame composed of two rods, one rod being an upper rod having a central arched section of curved, head-conforming contour forming the upper sides of a pair of unobstructed vision openings and adapted to fit around the forehead just above the eyes, and said upper rod having two spaced, substantially parallel, rigid temple rod sections rigidly integral with said central arched section, extending rearwardly therefrom and adapted to lie close alongside opposite sides of the head, and the other rod being a lower rod having an arched section with its central portion disposed adjacent to the central portion of said upper rods arched section and adapted to extend across the bridge of the nose, the portions of said lower rods arched section at opposite sides of its central portion extending therefrom first downward away from said upper rod and then back toward said upper rod, forming the lower sides of such pair of unobstructed vision openings and adapted to lie adjacent to the face just below the eyes, whereby said upper rod and said lower rod cooperate to block a ball directed to strike an eye, and said lower rod having two spaced, substantially parallel rigid temple rod sections rigidly integral with its arched section, extending rearwardly therefrom alongside and secured to the temple rod sections of said upper rod, respectively, the rearward portions of the temple rod sections of one of said rods being curved downwardly to form ear pieces.

4. An eye guard comprising a frame composed of two rods, one rod being an upper rod having a central arched section of curved, head-conforming contour forming the upper sides of a pair of unobstructed vision openings and adapted to fit around the forehead just above the eyes, and said upper rod having two spaced, substantially parallel, rigid temple rod sections rigidly integral with said central arched section, extending rearwardly therefrom and adapted to lie close alongside opposite sides of the head, and the other rod being a lower rod having an arched section with its central portion disposed adjacent to the central portion of said upper rods arched section and adapted to extend across the bridge of the nose, the portions of said lower rods arched section at opposite sides of its central portion extending therefrom first downward away from said upper rod and then back toward said upper rod, forming the lower sides of such pair of unobstructed vision openings and adapted to lie adjacent to the face just below the eyes, whereby said upper rod and said lower rod cooperate to block a ball directed to strike an eye, and said lower rod having two spaced, substantially parallel rigid temple rod sections rigidly integral with its arched section, extending rearwardly therefrom alongside and secured to the temple rod sections of said upper rod, respectively, the rearward portions of the temple rod sections of said lower rod being curved downwardly to form ear pieces and the rearward portions of the temple rod sections of said upper rod being bent upwardly and forming head strap anchors, and a head strap connectible to said anchors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sowle Aug. 16, 1955 

